Phlox plant named ‘USPHL02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘USPHL02’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; attractive purple-colored flowers with a red purple-colored star pattern at the center, freely and continuous flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Phlox hybrida cultivarUSPHL02.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name USPHL02.

The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Hikone Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new pot-type Phlox cultivars with numerous flowerswith attractive coloration.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventoron Apr. 25, 2000 in Hikone Shiga, Japan of two unidentified selectionsof Phlox hybrida, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif.,on Jun. 24, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings atBonsall, Calif. since Jul. 5, 2001, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar USPHL02 have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘USPHL02’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘USPHL02’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Attractive purple-colored flowers with a red purple-colored        star pattern at the center.    -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the parent selections inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are more vigorous than plants of the        parent selections.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of        the parent selections.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox flower for a longer period of time        than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to the other selections of Phloxhybrida, not patented, known to the Inventor. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Hikone Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phloxdiffered from plants of other selections of Phlox hybrida known to theInventor in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were more vigorous than plants of        other selections of Phlox hybrida known to the Inventor.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox flowered for a longer period of time        than plants of other selections of Phlox hybrida known to the        Inventor.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox were more high-temperature tolerant        than plants of other selections of Phlox hybrida known to the        Inventor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Phlox.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘USPHL02’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘USPHL02’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., in an outdoor nursery andunder commercial production practices during the summer. Plants wereabout four weeks when the photographs and description were taken. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 to 35° C.and day temperatures ranged from 7 to 18° C. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox hybrida cultivar USPHL02.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unidentified selection of Phlox hybrida, not            patented.        -   Male parent.—Unidentified selection of Phlox hybrida, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one to two weeks.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three to four            weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant            habit; broad inverted triangle; vigorous growth habit.            Freely branching with about five main stems per plant each            with multiple secondary lateral branches.        -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 36 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 146C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;            sessile. Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Slightly auriculate;            clasping. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Slightly coarse; pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate;            arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces:            146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: 147A.            Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single, rounded salverform flowers            arranged in terminal panicles; flowers face upright and            outward. Panicles roughly hemispherical in shape. Freely            flowering habit with about 24 to 36 flower buds and flowers            per lateral branch.        -   Fragrance.—Very faint, sweet.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring            through fall in Southern California Flowers persistent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on            the plant.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Elongated ovoid. Color: 201A overlain with 77D.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Depth: About 1.7 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length:            About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Broadly acute. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly flat; slightly            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; satiny. Color: Developing petals, upper surface:            77B; towards the base, 77C; central star pattern, 67A.            Developing petals, lower surface: 69D overlain with 77C.            Fully expanded petals, upper surface: 77B; central star            pattern, 66A. Fully expanded petals, lower surface: 69D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Length: About 4 mm.            Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Apicular; recurved. Apex:            Acuminate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Orientation: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Color: 144C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Orientation: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.            Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm.            Anther color: 14A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 14A.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one. Pistil length:            About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: 150C.            Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary color:            145A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been noted to    be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Phlox have not    been noted to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common to    Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from −3 to 38° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘USPHL02’, asillustrated and described.